by VintAxe » Wed Dec 15, 2010 7:12 pm
Hey PostQ.
Indeed you have a Les Paul Classic reissue. The number 8 indicates the model, so yours is a 1958 reissue. The second number is year of production, so yours was made in 1999 and the last 3 digits are the instrument production number, so you have the 120th produced that year.
Here is the serialization reference I used:
Determining exactly what you have is difficult due to the discoloration of your photo, it's hard to tell what finish is on the guitar. I'm also not sure whether you have a Classic, a Classic Plus or a Classic Premium Plus. The difference is in the quality of wood used for the top.
I shopped for one of these for a couple of years and discovered "lower grade" tops sometimes matched better than the Plus and Premium Plus models so I would use my eyes rather than Gibson's grading system. I watched eBay and prices generally ranged between $1,500 and $2,500 for these instruments. The Blue Book offers the same price range for guitars in Excellent Plus condition.
Yours appears to have a pretty decent ribbon top on it and seems fairly well matched although the glare from the flash prevents close inspection. I suspect it will probably fetch between $1,800 and $2,200 depending on the actual finish of the guitar and any damage it may have incurred over the years.